Confessions of A Traveling Pauper - richardpresents.com€¦ · manner of jewels. “You can travel...
Transcript of Confessions of A Traveling Pauper - richardpresents.com€¦ · manner of jewels. “You can travel...
-
Another eBookWholesaler Publication
Travel Cheap! Travel Well! Confessions of A Traveling Pauper
By Victor K. Pryles Victor K. Pryles 2004
Proudly brought to you by
JacobEducation.com
Email
Recommended Resources
Web Site Hosting Service
Internet Marketing
Affiliate Program
http://www.ebookwholesaler.net/r/g.php?u=jacobhttp://www.JacobLearning.commailto:[email protected]://www.ixwebhosting.com/templates/ix/v2/affiliate/clickthru.cgi?id=JacobGanhttp://www.succezz.comhttp://www.JacobeBooks.com
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 2 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 2 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Please Read This First
This book is copyright and all rights to all material are reserved.
It must not be offered or distributed by anyone except current
Members of Ebookwholesaler.
No part of this book may be stored, altered or distributed by any
means that is available now or in the future, without prior written
permission of the author and publisher.
This book must not be offered or distributed by anyone through any
auction, whether on-line or off-line.
This book is a simple overview of a complex subject, based on the
author's personal experience and research.
The author, publisher and distributors do not offer legal, medical or
other technical advice. Consult qualified professionals about those
matters.
The reader must accept sole responsibility for their own decisions
and actions and all consequences.
Certain images and/or photos in this book are the copyrighted
property of Jupiter Images and are being used with permission under
license. These images and/or photos may not be copied or
downloaded without permission from Jupiter Images.
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 3 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 3 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
CONTENTS
PLEASE READ THIS FIRST..................................................................................................................... 2
FORWARD................................................................................................................................................... 6
INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................... 10
LETS GET BUMPED! ............................................................................................................................. 33
OVERBOOKING CAN BE A BLESSING............................................................................................ 33 WHY IS OVERBOOKING HERE TO STAY? ..................................................................................... 33
Who is most likely to bump you? ....................................................................................................... 34 Voluntary Bumping ........................................................................................................................... 35
WHAT MAKES UP RULE 240 ............................................................................................................. 36 What is considered the airline's fault regarding delays and cancellations? ..................................... 36 What details might a Rule 240 include?............................................................................................ 37
BEAT THE AIRLINES AT THEIR OWN GAME................................................................................ 37 Reading Material is Essential......................................................................................................... 38 'Bump Me, Please!............................................................................................................................. 39
THE ABC'S OF AIRFARES .................................................................................................................. 40 TYPES OF PUBLISHED AIRFARES ................................................................................................... 42 WHAT IS AN AIRFARE? ..................................................................................................................... 44 AIRLINE CONTACTS .......................................................................................................................... 45
GET YOUR MAGNIFICENT MILES..................................................................................................... 51
FINDING VALUE.................................................................................................................................. 51 Whats It Worth to You?.................................................................................................................... 51
MILES FOR SALE................................................................................................................................. 52 GET HELP! ............................................................................................................................................ 53 DON'T GIVE AWAY YOUR ADVANTAGE....................................................................................... 54 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW............................................................................................................ 54 WHATS A COURIER COMPANY?.................................................................................................... 59
THE PAUPERS SECRETS TO FLYING! ............................................................................................. 62
ALL ABOUT CONSOLIDATORS........................................................................................................... 70
AROUND THE WORLD IN AS MANY DAYS AS YOU WANT! ..................................................... 73
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 4 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 4 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
CRUISES ON THE CHEAP! .................................................................................................................... 76
TYPES OF FARES................................................................................................................................. 77 SMALL CRUISE LINE CONTACTS:................................................................................................... 82 MEDIUM SIZED CRUISE CONTACTS: ............................................................................................. 83 LARGE AND MEGA-SHIP CRUISE LINE CONTACTS:................................................................... 86 CRUISE CONSOLIDATORS CAN BE A PAUPER'S BEST FRIEND................................................ 87 ALL ABOARD THE FREIGHTER CRUISE ........................................................................................ 89
RICH ACCOMMODATIONS ON A PAUPERS BUDGET................................................................. 91
LETS NEGOTIATE.............................................................................................................................. 95 THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF HOTEL DISCOUNTERS............................................................... 97 DISCOUNT PROGRAMS FROM OUR FAVORITE HOTELS........................................................... 99
MI CASA, YOU CASA? OR A PAUPER'S HOME IS HIS CASTLE. .............................................. 108
CAMPING & RVS.............................................................................................................................. 110 DONT GET HOSTILE - JUST CHECK INTO A HOSTEL .............................................................. 115
SAY HELLO TO THE PAUPER IN YOU! ........................................................................................... 119
U.S. TOUR OPERATORS TRAVEL QUIZ....................................................................................... 121 FACE TO FACE, PAUPER TO PAUPER........................................................................................... 124
PAUPERS TRAVEL CHECKLIST ...................................................................................................... 130
PAUPERS TRAVEL FREE & GET PAID TO TRAVEL.................................................................... 136
OTHER CHANCES TO MAKE $$$ AS A TRAVELING PAUPER.................................................. 139
THE INDEPENDENT PAUPER ............................................................................................................ 150
EVERY PAUPERS TRAVEL RESOURCES........................................................................................ 170
Choosing A Guidebook.................................................................................................................... 178
PAUPERS SECRET CONFESSION # 55.............................................................................................. 183
VALUABLE FORMS TO HELP PAUPERS PLAN............................................................................. 184
MY HANDY LIST OF FAVORITES..................................................................................................... 194
TO TRAVEL SOLO OR NOT?.............................................................................................................. 203
PAPERWORK: PASSPORTS, VISAS, MONEY AND MORE! ......................................................... 216
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 5 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 5 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
SPEAK TO MEIN ANY LANGUAGE! ............................................................................................. 245
AFTERWORD.......................................................................................................................................... 254
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 6 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 6 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Forward
There are thousands of books on travel. From remarkable memoirs
by great travelers of the world, past and present, to more mundane
books that serve as pure guidebooks. They all have value and Ive
read hundreds that have informed, entertained and excited me.
So why write another one?
As a freelance writer and photographer, right from the start, I realized
that a book devoted purely to budget travel would offer readers a
newer slant on worldwide adventure. My desire was to present a
variety of ways to travel for the economically challenged individual.
Though Im comfortable, Im far from rich. I have always had a need
and burning desire to travel, but there was always another burning
that took place; --- a hole that seemed to burn at the bottom of my
pockets.
I was always anxious about my short trips (in those days they were all
short) because I didnt know how to spend my money wisely. I was
worried about how Id pay the bills that accrued while I was away and
how my credit card had become maxed-out despite my best
intentions when leaving home. There were always unexpected
expenses while I was on the road. I was stuck wondering how I might
change all of this and do what I loved more than breathing---travel.
Then I decided to use my skills as a researcher and consultant to
unearth ways to travel cheaply. As I was in the middle of doing this
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 7 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 7 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
exhaustive research, not even contemplating a book at the time, I
drifted asleep, my work papers, books and reports disheveled about
me, and (as the Beatles put it) I fell into a dream:
I met a pauper on the roadside in some strange far-off land. He had
a very regal bearing, in spite of the fact that he was obviously of small
means. His eyes shone brightly and I was sure the glint in them came
directly from the sun. He presented a warm, inviting smile that
careened off the corners of his mouth.
A duffel bag was slung over his right shoulder and he held a walking
stick in his left hand, he wore a loosely draped deep purple cover
dress, which was frayed and just a bit soiled. I smiled back and asked
him if he knew the best way to travel this land on the cheap. I pulled
the pockets in my denim jeans inside out and showed him the holes
that were burned in them.
At this the pauper laughed and pulled his pockets inside out, too.
From them fell hundreds of dollar bills, gold pieces, diamonds, and all
manner of jewels.
You can travel this land with the most precious thing of all, and have
money in place of those holes in your pockets, he said.
The most precious thing? I asked.
Yes, --- your imagination. You have to see that the world is very
small indeed and you can go anywhere at anytime you choose, the
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 8 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 8 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
wise pauper related. But first, you must imagine that this is so, and
only then can you make it so.
Then all my money worries can be overcome?
Oh, indeed. There are hundreds of ways a pauper travels with only
his wits and knowledge to pay his way. In fact, I have been
handsomely rewarded by the world, and all I must do is travel!
Then I shall let my imagination free, and find these ways, I said
declaratively.
And while youre at it, write a book about me, the splendid pauper
said.
I think I started down a new road after that sweet dream. I awoke to a
broader world that had somehow become smaller. New avenues of
possibility opened to me and I wished only to travel down the
pauper's trail to journey and adventure.
Youll notice that in this book I capitalize the word pauper. That is
because Ive come to see that becoming a conscious Pauper is a
laudable act and deserves more respect than is commonly afforded.
My hope is that you, dear reader, will become a Pauper that takes
great joy in developing wise, crafty and savvy traveling knowledge. A
true Pauper uses experience as his teacher and employs his wits to
succeed.
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 9 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 9 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Thats the purpose of this book, to guide you to ways you can use
your own innate genius to travel the roads of life. My gratitude to the
many Paupers Ive met along the way. In my search to find the
secrets and tricks of the trade Ive learned that imagination is truly the
most important quality, and that we must first travel within ourselves
before finding the truest pleasure in the world about us.
Lets begin our journey together, with a wink and a nod to that first
Pauper of my dreams.
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 1 0 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 10 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Introduction
Why do we travel? How is it that we humans
continually move from one place to another,
always expectant, ready and eager to
explore and learn? It is in our genes to grow
and search. Our earliest ancestors always
moved about to find new fields of
opportunity, new hunting grounds, new
vistas.
The trail is the thing, not the end of the trail. Travel too fast and you
miss all you are traveling for. Louis L'Amour (1908 - 1988), Ride the Dark Trail
In this modern age we travel for pleasure; we vacation. Not from
necessity, but from a desire to experience other cultures and ways of
life. We also travel for business. Opportunity to gain financial
prosperity many times requires us to travel to a new city, even a new
country.
http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Louis_L'Amour/
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 1 1 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 11 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Now, the world is our oyster. It has shrunk and become accessible to
us like never before in history. It would take Columbus months to
traverse to the New World. The danger and uncertainty of travel
plagued the Old World. You took your life in your hands in making
almost any journey. There were bandits, brigands, pirates and neer
do wells around every corner, just waiting to exploit your uncertainty
in the new environment. There were no airplanes, fast moving trains
or supersonic jets. By foot, by meager ship, by small cart, carriage
and wagon we struggled to get from one place to another and our
ancestors, through millennia past, undertook tremendous journeys of
risk and toil. Why? Because travel in the ancient world was as
valuable and needed as it is in our modern time.
Mankind has gained remarkably from its willingness to travel.
Humanity has conquered strange lands, settled in disparate places,
created whole new civilizations in distant locales. Our species is all
the better for our traveling.
What you've done becomes the judge of what you're going to do --
especially in other people's minds. When you're traveling, you are
what you are right there and then. People don't have your past to
hold against you. No yesterdays on the road. William Least Heat Moon, Blue Highways
Beyond the massive accomplishments that travel gave us, there is
the call of our spirit to travel. Inside each human being there is a
yearning to see new vistas, new mountain ranges, swirling seas,
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 1 2 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 12 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
architecture, dress and customs. When we confront the new, the
strange and unusual, we grow and expand our consciousness. We
learn to appreciate our own home culture and at the same time,
revel in the cultures others have designed for their lives.
Have you noticed how your spirit is always refreshed after a time of
travel? You return with new eyes, or you may stay at your destination,
but you always do so with a larger vision of your life, with a more
receptive attitude toward living. You can tackle problems that have
plagued you with a fresh perspective. Your travel has freed you to a
great extent. Now you are more than when you first left on your
journey. You have allowed a finer sensibility to arise in your soul. We
are always touched by our travels.
Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out
over and over again in the quietest chambers, that the mind can
never break off from the journey. Pat Conroy (1945 -), The Prince of Tides
In this book we are going to discover ways to travel that are unique
and cost-effective. Really, this is an electronic book that you should
put on your laptop and carry around the world with you!
What a smorgasbord of travel information awaits you!
All in one place, right in front of your eyes, instantly available, --- all
the travel hot spots, ---the unknown secrets, ---the special deals and
comprehensive travel savvy, --- knowledge that would take you
http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Pat_Conroy/
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 1 3 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 13 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
years to learn on your ownin one location, on your hard drive, in
this PDF document!
Need to know the best day of the week to rent a car? Its in here.
Worry about what you need to say to the desk clerk at the hotel when
you arrive, so the desk clerk doesnt take advantage of you? Its in
here, (This one saves you tons of money and gets you the best room in the hotel!)
Do you know the best time of day to make a plane reservation to
save hundreds of dollars? Its in here.
How about a way to get a FREE airplane ticket nearly every time you travel? The answer is in this book.
What if you could discover exactly how the airlines are vulnerable, so you can take advantage of them? Its in this book.
What if you could find 20 ways to outsmart the multi-billion dollar
travel industry? Little ol you! Its in these pages!
Ill give you a 10-step program to get yourself BUMPED from a flight so you can have the airline ticket agent eating out of your hand and
begging you to take another flight for FREE! Right away, in chapter
#1.
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 1 4 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 14 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
This isnt rocket science. Ill show you the ABCs of air travel and provide you with all of the major airline contact phone numbers so
you can have fast, instant access when you are ready to travel.
Did you know there are 6 types of published airfares? In this book you learn about all of them and ways to take advantage of each.
In chapter 2 Ill prove to you that frequent flyer miles are like money in
the bank. Too many sappy travelers waste their miles instead of
using them to the max. Ill take you step-by-step into the wonderful
world of maximizing these miles to the ultimate advantageyour
advantagenot the airlines.
Ill show you 3 hidden ways to accumulate tremendous free miles that most people dont even know exist!
In this book youll find out how crafty the airline business can be, and
how they depend on you not knowing the rules of the game. How they bank on you misusing, and even LOSING your frequent flyer
miles, out of your own ignorance!
Ill teach you about Courier Companies. They need you! They will pay all the expenses for your flight. Youll learn that all you need to do is carry a piece of luggage for them.
Can you do that?
Can you fly to Singapore, enjoy the sights; sip some Malaysian tea,
play in the areas hot night spots, get jazzed by the great energy
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 1 5 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 15 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
available at this exotic destination, have a beautiful vacation---and
drop off one piece of luggage at the airport when you arrive? I think so!
Then, in chapter 4 Ill introduce you to Consolidators. These guys buy blocks of tickets and pass tremendous savings on to you. Once
you find out about them you can say Ta-Ta! ---Goodbye---to the
masses that buy airline tickets the old fashioned way!
Hold it!
All of the above is coming your way, and youve only read the first 37
pages of this book! Imagine, all the knowledge, the insider secrets,
the ways to beat the billion-dollar travel industry, and weve only read
the first four chapters of Travel Cheap- Travel Well!
There are still 200+ pages and 10 chapters to go!
Im serious. You can travel like the rich and famous, but with the mindset of a Pauper. Ill say more about this special, world-altering
frame of mind later in this introduction.
Im still talking about those fabulous Consolidators here:
Ill show you consolidators that can send you around the world. Yes, its a dream youve always had, right? You fly around the globe and
see what Planet Earth is like from everywhere to everywhere. Why not? If youre a member of the Traveling Paupers, it may be more of a possibility than youve ever imagined.
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 1 6 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 16 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
I will list, in black & white, some consolidators that break their backs
to make this dream a reality. They offer tons of routings and you can
even get a guarantee to see the sites you really have a hankering for. Ground transportation, city tours and even lodging can be booked in advance or when you arrive.
But I cant hang around this meaty chapter 4 forever. And man, is it
chock full of money saving, mind blowing advice?!
Lets look at chapter 5: CRUISES ON THE CHEAP!
I reveal how all cruise ships, yes all of them, need to kill time with
what is called repositioning cruises---what does that mean? It means
you save TONS of money on first class, state-of-the-art-cruise lines
every month of the year, thats what!
Youll be an expert on cruises with this chapter. Did you know there are 6 categories in the cruise ship industry? Each of them offers you
something different, something marvelous and magical. But you have
to know which is best for you. Again, its in here.
Ill show you how the sneaky cruise lines plow on the extra charges
for activities that you can turn back on them and get for free, or very
little cost.
Do you know which are the best cabins on board a cruise ship? You will after you read this book. And its not the Penthouse suite, either!
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 1 7 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 17 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Ill even help you out if you have a tendency to get sea-sick---there
are cabins that are more stable, and your tummy will thank me!
You can get so much more for your cruise dollar, like added value
packages and even FREE DAYS. Its in here.
Ill give you pinpoint directions on when to book your cruise for maximum value.
Youll discover the biggest single expense on a cruise vacation, bar none, and how to snuff it out, long before you even lay out on the
sundeck. and STILL get the benefit of this highly overpriced nicety
for pennies on the dollar.
Cruise Directors will hate me for revealing this one!
There is a comprehensive list in this book of small, medium and large
cruise lines with all the contact information you need.
Ill even uncover the best way to take shore leave:
what to do
how to save scads of money
where to look and
how to spend your time to thwart the cruise lines in their effort to suck some more dough out of you!
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 1 8 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 18 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Then I talk about other water travel - from houseboats to using cruise
consolidators.
Whew!
Ahoy, mate!
In chapter 6, we look at RICH ACCOMODATIONS ON A PAUPER'S BUDGET.
Hotels are some of the most over blown, out of the ballpark,
ridiculously expensive items on your travel itinerary. It neednt be that
way!
You will gasp out loud when you read this chapter.
Ive found some glittering establishments; fine, well-appointed hotels, motels and more.
If we play our cards right, we can stay at them and pay even less
than we would at one of the sleaze joints that pepper every town,
city and highway around the world.
The trick is to employ some great strategies that every Pauper can
use. Youll get them all in this book!
Incentives and programs are listed for you in this chapter, along with
contact info for all the major hotel and motel chains.
Let me ask you a few questions.
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 1 9 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 19 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Did you know that you should QUIZ the check-in clerk at the hotel where youre staying? I give you the EXACT words to make him shake in his boots and give up the best room he has to offer!
Did you know that you almost always OVERTIP for room service? Ill explain how the hotels trap you into paying up the kazoo for breakfast in bed.
Do you know why a 15-minute tour of your hotel can save you mounds of money and make you safe and secure? In this book you will!
Do you realize check-in clerks are trained to tempt you into an upgrade--- by making you an offer you cant refuse? I show you how they do it, and how you turn the tables on them!
Did you know the marketing department of most major hotel chains always spring a doozy of a deal to book unused roomsat the last minute? They do! And youll know how to take advantage of those delirious deals on your very next stay!
Do you own a house? Then get ready to TRADE IT to other like-minded Paupers for some really fantastic vacation getaways! Its all in chapter 6.
Ever hear of ones that offer walk in closets, DSS Satellite systems,
king size beds, heated tile floors, automatic awnings, slide out patios,
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 2 0 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 20 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
retractable sunroofs, spiral staircases and rooftop decks? Well you
will here, and youll learn how to get yourself inside one, too!
Want to learn how to buy an RV and not sell your grandchildrens legacy to do it?
Chapter 6 is for you!
Would you be interested in just renting an RV? Why not? Ill lay out the real skinny and put it on the line exactly how.
Wouldnt it be remarkable if you could enjoy camping out under the stars in a first class park----for FREE? Ill show you numerous ways to make it happen.
[Personal side note: (I have to brag, right now!)
I went to Margarita Island, in the Caribbean and lounged on sandy
beaches, golfed, had a blast with the nightlife, visited the spas and
enjoyed first class shopping for 8 days for $232.
Thats with airfare, unlimited drinks, meals, and more. I used a
discount club that lets Paupers save on vacation packages, cruises
and more. They have a Hot Deal featured on the website. Its all
revealed in Paupers Secret Confession #27 in chapter 6.
End Personal side note.]
_______________________________________________________
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 2 1 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 21 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Look, Im exhausted. Ive only covered the first six chaptersthere are 8 more!
In chapter 7, you will discover exactly what KIND of Pauper you are on the inside! In Say Hello To The Pauper In You you get two great quizzes for an insightful view of your personal preferences when it comes to travel.
Are you a .
? Traveling Professor Pauper
? The Pack Rat Pauper
? the Show Me Pauper or a
? White Rabbit Pauper?
When you finish this chapter, youll feel amused and enlightened -
knowing more about yourself, your travel habits and preferences.
In this revealing chapter, there is also the first of our helpful checklists
- The Pauper's Travel Checklist that conveniently sorts out all the choices available so that you are organized, prepared, and ready for
action.
Chapter 8 will amaze you! The title Pauper's Travel Free & Get Paid To Travel says it all.
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 2 2 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 22 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
You actually MAKE money when you read this book and aspire to be
a true traveling Pauper.
Theres a bakers dozen in here. Ill present 13 ways to generate income as you see the world. Each and every one is a unique use of your talents and abilities that you would never dream were available.
But they are.
Chapter 9 is The Independent Travelers chapter.
Like to go it alone? I teach you 10 essential things you need to understand for this kind of trip to become a joy, instead of a lonely or
barren experience. Youve got all the information you need to really
enjoy making any trip by yourself.
The single traveler needs to know the many vagaries involved with
other types of travel besides touring and airline travel. Thats why the
next section deals with trains, buses and cars. In other words, Ground Transportation.
Youll discover 4 exceptional companies that are dedicated to you and YOU alone. They are custom-made for independent travelers. Theres everything here that you need to know, including contact
information.
Flying by the seat of our pants is a way of life for some of us.
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 2 3 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 23 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
There are wonderful resources to help you out in this chapter.
What to do and how to act at the train station ticket window (this is important in some countries).
The savvy use of a rail pass
How to get the perfect seat on the train
Why buses are a godsend to Paupers who love the bus because its really cheap transportation.
In America, Greyhound is huge, offering 2,600 destinations in 48 states, Canada and Mexico, with 1,800 daily departures. Ill tell you all about them and 7 other perfect bus companies!
The only bus route you should ever book (this will save you hours of travel and days of frustration)
6 tips on bus travel including my secrets about leg room, food, border crossings, and security
Cars, cars, cars. Around the world contact lists for instant access when you want to hit the road anywhere at anytime.
My personal favorite rental car company that consistently
saves a bare minimum of 30% off any other car rental company out there. (See Paupers Secret Confession # 50!)
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 2 4 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 24 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
7 tips for the open road including how to instantly find the cheapest gas nearest you.
Chapter 10 is jammed with every pauper's travel resources including my TOP SECRET confession (youll love this one).
All about travel clubs: Websites including my 6 absolute favorites that I wouldnt walk around the block without having on my laptop computer (one of them helps me speak a foreign language instantly while traveling) . and much more!
I even cover the only ways to judge whether a guidebook is any good. Theres a list of the 5 BEST GUIDEBOOKS in the world--- (and theyre not the ones you may be familiar with), complete with all the
contact information to get your personal copies.
Chapter 11 presents an entire set of valuable FORMS to help you plan your trip.
Use these every time you make a journey and you will be completely
prepared with your mind at ease so that you can really soak up the
destination youve dreamed of.
Why worry about forgetting something? You never miss a beat when
you use these forms and allow them to direct your choices and focus your desires to a fine point!
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 2 5 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 25 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Chapter 12 is one of my favorites.
Here, youll learn all about traveling with a partner, solo or with a group; the benefits and problems attached to each choice.
We even finesse the sticky issue of $money$ and how to make sure it doesnt come between you and the person youre traveling with.
Ill lay it out in very human, realistic terms:
? What makes the ideal travel partner?
? How do you find the perfect traveling companion? Its in this chapter.
Chapter 13 is really detail-oriented.
Here, you find out everything you need to know about the paperwork involved in travel. Where to get, how to use, and whats needed concerning passports, visas, money and much, much more.
We look at insurance:
? Do you need it?
? What about trip cancellation and interruption insurance?
? How much is it?
? What are the options?
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 2 6 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 26 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
? How can you win the game and still feel secure?
? What about medical insurance abroad? What are the options?
? How about exchange rates?
How should you get money sent to you from back home?
What are the cheapest alternatives? Its all in Chapter 13.
Chapter 14 tackles the #1 reason most people are afraid to travel abroad: Language!
Youll discover the ways to make language a NON-ISSUE by
understanding exactly which words and phrases youll need in ANY country you visit.
You can immerse yourself in a language (I show you that too!) or you
can discover how a mere 10 -100 words can get you anywhere, anytime around the globe.
Youll breathe a big, long, fat, relaxing sigh of relief when you
discover that English has been firmly planted around the world over
the past 100 years. Its the #1 favorite second language in the world.
(Ill tell you the other top four in this chapter, as well).
English is everywhere, so there is no need to fear.
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 2 7 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 27 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Do you know how to instantly find someone who speaks English
when abroad? In chapter 14 you will (See pauper's Secret Confession #74).
Ill introduce you to other techniques for communicating your needs and desires without speaking a single word, whether its
English or Swahili!
When youve finished this remarkable chapter, the discomfort about
language disappears and youll find all the confidence to engage in
conversation or enter meaningful communication with your fellow
human beings around the world!
Trying to introduce all the extraordinary tricks, secrets and downright
sneaky ways you can save on your next travel adventure would make
this introduction way too long.
Just thinking about the trips Ive made, the joy that awaits you, the
insider knowledge packed into each and every chapter of this book -
well, to put it frankly: youve got it all in one handy electronic reference book. Im very proud of the contents which just keep on coming page after page and chapter after chapter.
Do you own a laptop computer? Then put this baby in there and open
it up as you whisk around the world, carefree, money in pocket, ready
for anything!
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 2 8 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 28 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Every time you open this e-book, youll find:
Over 200 workable links that will take you to online sites that instantly plug you into travel magic and travel bargains. You can
make your plans right then and there, on the spot.
Over 75 real-life confessions that make sense of travel in the REAL world, these are sometimes humorous, sometimes dead
serious, but always useful and wise.
These are my own experiences that will save you countless months
of misery and halting experiments; insights that you wont find
anywhere else.
Over 200 resources that make every trip you take an organized, positive and fully-charted adventure. No guess-work here. Only knowledge and facts that you can use in your real-life travel around
the globe.
There are opportunities available to us now that allow for regular, consistent travel, all around the globe, that our ancestors would have been highly jealous of. Where it was once very expensive to
move about, arduous and even life-threatening, we now have an entire industry that will cater to our wanderlust while we enjoy easy modes of transportation, delight in exceptional service and
remarkable comfort.
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 2 9 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 29 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
While our ancestors grasped adventure that was often thrust on
them, we can now choose the level of adventure that we wish. We can travel to the wildest, most remote areas left on the planet or,
conversely, choose to experience deep pleasure and satisfaction in
the most luxurious of world capitals.
In these pages, I will introduce you to all of the money-saving
techniques, the price-slashing values and the world of discount travel. You will discover ways that you never dreamed of, that will make all manner of travel instantly possible.
Once you learn the way to Travel Cheap- Travel Well, you can look forward to living like the rich and famous, but on a paupers budget.
The trouble in corporate America is that too many people with too
much power live in a box (their home), and then travel the same road
every day to another box (their office). Faith Popcorn, The Popcorn Report, 1991
Once you decide to join me as a world-traveling Pauper, you will
become one of the elite, the people that have expanded their
opportunities and ideas - a person that knows how to travel with limited funds.
Youll never have to settle for a lifestyle that keeps you stuck in the
mud, away from the wide world that surrounds you. You will become
a fearless adventurer ready to explore and discover all-new ways of
life.
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 3 0 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 30 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Whether you travel for business or pleasure, you will be able to make
this planet more of a backyard than you could ever have imagined it
to be with the knowledge you gain by reading this book.
Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that
goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living. Miriam Beard
Well look at ways to travel by air, by train, by boat---even by foot!
We will capture the best prices, the best bargains, the cheapest
modes of transportation.
Ill introduce you to best buys in lodging, from Hotels and Inns, to Bed & Breakfast establishments, thatched huts or houseboats.
Well even look at ways to best take advantage of our days in a new
locale - how to be a wise tourist and soak up as much of the
surrounding culture and landscape as we can, no matter how long we
stay.
There are other bargains to discover, as well, like where to eat:
restaurants, diners, local eateries and places of rest and relaxation
that dont break the bank.
You will find that using these tricks, tips and techniques in your travel
will greatly expand your enjoyment.
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 3 1 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 31 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
When you dont have to count every penny, worried about whether
you will be able to afford the ticket home, constantly concerned about
what you must spend to enjoy yourself---you experience a new-found freedom.
Being a Pauper is a grand and noble experiment in freedom.
Together, in these pages, we will cast aside the common aspersion
that being a pauper is anything but a noble accomplishment. When I
travel, I love acting like a vagabond - a pauper among the rich and
well to do!
Why?
Because, I know that I dont ever have to worry about returning home to pay that escalating credit card bill. In fact, I can look forward to my next trip, right away. You see - Im a frugal cuss. I dont
cower with the fear that I will over-spend or over-indulge during my
travels.
Yet, I have a marvelous time. The pauper in me is carefree,
unconcerned with the silly ways people often waste money. I fly,
cruise and travel with a light heart, filled with the joy of discovery.
When we travel like stalwart Paupers, we can, together, beat the
multi-billion dollar travel industry at their own game.
Traveling like a pauper is traveling savvy.
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 3 2 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 32 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Thats the purpose behind this book. I look forward to our journey
together. Hold onto your wallet - a wallet that has plenty of left-over
cash in it---you are about to hear the confessions of a traveling pauper.
Welcome to our secret society!
Victor K. Pryles
Light hearted, for life is
short, the Pauper is of a
cheerful mind; he makes a
delightful excursion to
gladden other hearts, swift
to love, making haste to be
kind.
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 3 3 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 33 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Lets Get Bumped!
I have found adventure in flying, in world travel, in business and even
close at hand... Adventure is a state of mind and spirit. -Jacqueline Cochran (1910 - 1980)
Overbooking can be a Blessing
Is "overbooked" a dirty word?
Many people instantly would answer yes, of course it is and, just as
quickly, wonder why such a stupid question is even posed.
Overbooking often causes delays while the airlines sort out who is
going to be "bumped" from their chosen, ticketed flight. Big, bad,
uncaring airline computers are involved, too. Perfectly good travel
plans are snuffed out.
But you should know that overbooking is now a business necessity
and a beautiful opportunity for free travel.
Why is Overbooking Here to Stay?
Each year, Dean Headley of Wichita State and Brent Bowen of the
University of Nebraska-Omaha rate the ten major airlines for best
service.
http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Jacqueline_Cochran/http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Jacqueline_Cochran/
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 3 4 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 34 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
One of their 14 study criteria is denied boardings. They found the rate
didn't really change between 1998 and 1999, despite plenty of
negative publicity for the airlines, especially Delta.
Who is most likely to bump you?
Delta, 1.53
America West, 1.39
Southwest, 1.38
Alaska, 0.91
United, 0.90
TWA, 0.73
US Airways, 0.52
American, 0.43
Continental, 0.34
Northwest, 0.18
Source: Dean Headley and Brent Bowen
I want to show you the ins and outs of this overbooking and how you
can take advantage of it.
The airlines constantly overbook. Why?
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 3 5 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 35 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Why not? Profits are at stake. Empty seats are simply unacceptable.
Programmers try to develop formulas that will overbook just enough
to ensure a full aircraft while allowing for no-shows. That's a tricky
task that no one has fully mastered.
It is profitable to overbook, even at the risk of giving away free tickets
and overnight hotel rooms. A few freebies are preferable to ten or
twenty empty seats on that flight from Japan to Los Angeles.
Voluntary Bumping
You're not celebrating Grannys 100th birthday. It's not New Years
Eve or Christmas. Getting to your destination hours or even a day
later is not the end of the world. Ask yourself if this, indeed, is your
case. Yes?
Then read on...
Tom Parsons is a travel expert who says he gets bumped roughly a
dozen times every year. His article, Getting Bumped For Fun and
Profit, lays out the basic strategy, and these words of wisdom: "some
travelers consider overbooked flights a golden opportunity".
Parsons recommends starting the night before departure with a call to
the airline or your travel agent (a list of airline contacts is at the end of
this chapter). Ask if the flight is overbooked. An affirmative answer
means you should be at the gate 90 minutes before scheduled
departure. It's a bit early, but it usually guarantees you'll be first in
line.
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 3 6 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 36 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
The Department of Transportation requires airlines to ask for
volunteers before they deny a flight to anyone. You should make it
clear that you're willing to be bumped.
What makes up Rule 240
How has Rule 240 changed?
Because Rule 240 deals with cancellations and delays, it is probably
the best known of any 'rules' pertaining to the airlines. What makes
defining Rule 240 so problematic is that Rule 240 is not a Federal
requirement since the deregulation of the U.S. airline industry.
Therefore, if the airline has submitted the rule in their respective
contracts (also conditions) of carriage (the ticket is a contractual
agreement that an airline and passenger enter regarding the
transport of a passenger) then the airline has a Rule 240, but its not
required to do so.
A common misconception is that all airlines must have a Rule 240,
but they do not. And airlines have different versions of Rule 240,
making it even more difficult for passengers to know their rights in the
event of a delay or cancellation.
What is considered the airline's fault regarding delays and cancellations?
Mechanical problems
Late arrival of an aircraft
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 3 7 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 37 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Pilots or other crew that are not at the aircraft on the time
Other factors that are within an airline's control
What details might a Rule 240 include?
A Rule 240 may or may not include the following items:
Meal vouchers
Confirmation on the airline's next flight or on another airline
Option to not travel and obtain a refund
Hotel accommodation
Ground transportation
Phone calls
Beat the Airlines at their Own Game
The D.O.T.(Department Of Transportation) does not specify
compensation, so a final agreement should come only after some
important factors are settled to your satisfaction. Flight arrangements
for the current trip that youre taking should top the list.
Make certain you can get on that airline's next available flight to your
destination. If not, you want a guaranteed flight on another carrier.
You have the law on your side here -thats right, you can cite Rule
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 3 8 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 38 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
240. No need to read or understand it, just bring it up in your
conversation with the booking agent or flight attendant. Airline
workers understand it pretty well.
Next, you'll probably be offered a travel voucher that's good for
deeply discounted or, better yet, free flights on a future trip. Be sure
that today's inconvenience will pay off. Is a discount coupon worth the
hassle when you really want a round-trip ticket? It's like any other
situation: If you're not happy, be prepared to walk away. If you
experience a delay of more than two hours, then you should be
entitled to meal vouchers and perhaps admission to the airline's
V.I.P. club. Don't be afraid to ask for them.
What if you find yourself bumped from the second flight, too? Oh boy,
oh boy! Parsons says it is possible to earn two or more no-cost-to-
you tickets in a single day.
Reading Material is Essential
You'll spend a long time sitting at the airport, so bring along your
favorite magazines and lusty novels.
Other recommended publications include the timetables for airlines
that fly from your current airport. These will be important if you can't
get another immediate flight after the bump. Attendants have been
known to say, "Sorry, none of the other airlines will be able to
accommodate you." If you can point out that there is indeed a flight to
where you are headed leaving in 45 minutes, they will have to work it
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 3 9 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 39 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
out for you, and you will feel very, very happy about using the airline
rules and timetables to beat them at their own game!
'Bump Me, Please!
Heres a quick reference for people who want to get 'bumped' in order
to obtain a free airline ticket.
Here's How:
1. Ask if the flight is overbooked. Call your travel agent the night
before scheduled departure.
2. Pack flight schedules for other airlines leaving for your
destination from the departure airport.
3. Get to the airport 90 minutes before scheduled departure. Be
first in line at check-in.
4. Before agreeing to be bumped, make certain the airline is
offering a free ticket or a deeply discounted ticket.
5. Before accepting the ticket for another day's travel, tell the
agents you want to be sure of today's arrangements.
6. Tell the agent you want confirmed reservations on the next
flight to today's destination.
7. If there is no guaranteed seat on the next flight, tell them you
want a guaranteed flight on another airline. Cite Rule 240.
http://budgettravel.about.com/library/weekly/aa042800.htm
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 4 0 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 40 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Consult the flight schedule that you packed and choose an alternate
flight that works best for you.
8. If your wait for another flight exceeds two hours, inquire about
meal vouchers and other perks.
9. If you get bumped from the next flight, repeat the above steps.
You could get a second free ticket in one day!
Tips:
There are rules everyone must follow in a 'bumping' situation, but
some of the benefits will vary by airline.
The rules on bumping are different for international flights. Consult
your airline if applicable.
Under some circumstances, the airlines have to compensate bumped
passengers with cash values up to $400 USD. Don't take a ticket
that's worth less if you're eligible for the money.
The ABC's of airfares
When booking a ticket, regardless of whether it is using a published
or unpublished fare, there are always letters that are assigned. These
letters indicate the class of service, not simply economy or business
class, but rather the type of fare that was agreed to.
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 4 1 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 41 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Without getting into the particular rules of each fare type, letters are
assigned by the airlines to indicate the kind of ticket that was bought.
F, P are the letters most commonly used to indicate First Class.
J, C are the letters most often used to represent Business, or
Executive Class.
Y is almost universally used to indicate a full fare economy
ticket.
B, H, L, M, V, etc. are just some of the letters indicating
subclasses (reduced, restricted, and/or discounted fares).
X, U, R are a few of the letters commonly used to indicate a fare purchased from a consolidator.
These letters vary by airline and in value. B may show a more expensive ticket on one airline. L may represent a ticket booked on a seat sale on another airline.
If you have booked a discounted fare and are interested in the sub-
class you are holding, the letter immediately follows the flight number
on your ticket and will fall under the heading of Booking Class or
some similar, shortened version.
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 4 2 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 42 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Types of published airfares
This is a list of the main types of published airfares - usually based on
round-trip or one-way travel:
APEX fares are discounted international fares. Such fares
usually require tickets to be purchased in advance, such as 7,
14, or 21 day minimum advance purchase, and will have other
restrictions being non-refundable or attracting change fees
are just two of the possible restrictions.
Discount Fares tend to have a smaller price tag and are offered
for a limited time (seat sales would fall into this category). They
usually have a long list of restrictions such as specific travel
dates, minimum and maximum stay (for example, a minimum
Saturday night stay, a maximum 30 day stay), etc.
Unlike most published fares, it is important to make sure
that you are aware of the fare rules and restrictions on
discount (seat sale) fares. Keep a copy of the rules because
seat sale fares come and go quickly. The rules and
restrictions can be harder (sometimes impossible) to
retrieve online.
Excursion Fares are lower priced fares that have restrictions
like advance purchase, time of year, minimum/maximum stay,
etc.
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 4 3 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 43 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Unrestricted, Flexible, or Full Fares are the titles given to the
most expensive tickets. You pay for a ticket that allows you to
refund or change the ticket as necessary for fares that can be
purchased at any time, even the same day of travel.
Joint fares are offered by airlines that have some sort of partner
relationship on selected routes. They, essentially, give a
passenger a price-break when you are using more than one
airline to get somewhere. Joint fares have their own set of
restrictions, not unlike those already mentioned for excursion
and discount fares.
A through fare is a fare to a destination reached by traveling
through a gateway city. It could be combined with any of the
fare types listed above and is used to obtain a lower price when
you are not simply flying from point A to point B, but are
connecting through other points to get to your destination. If you
are traveling from Atlanta to Athens via Frankfurt, you may be
offered a through fare so that, instead of paying for Atlanta to
Frankfurt and Frankfurt to Athens, you pay one fare for Atlanta
through to Athens.
For the sake of profits, airlines will not offer every seat on an aircraft
at the seat sale fares, or excursion fares. As flights fill, the least
expensive fares disappear regardless of how far in advance it is.
Unless you are on a full-fare ticket, you can be certain that there will
be any number of restrictions involved with your airfare -
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 4 4 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 44 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
minimum/maximum stay; time of day; weekday, weekend price
differences; change fees; mileage (on through fares you may be
restricted to a certain number of miles to get you to your destination),
advance purchase; youth/child/senior rule differences; etc.
With so many fare types, even more fare rules and, considering that
airline tickets are contracts between passengers and airlines, it is
important to know what you are signing up for.
What is an airfare?
You don't always know what you are going to get when you purchase
an airline ticket. Why is it that every person on a flight may have paid
a different price to get on the same airplane?
Can you change or cancel your tickets, and if so, how much will it
cost?
The airlines have a seemingly labyrinth like formula for constructing
airfares. Knowing what types of airfares exist and how they play into
your travel may not mean that airfares make sense, but you can at
least make sense of them.
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 4 5 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 45 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Simply put, an airfare is the price a passenger pays in order to travel
by plane. The types of fares, rules and restrictions, taxes, etc., are all
components that complicate the price involved for a passenger to fly
from here to there.
Fares are most often based on one-way or round-trip. Fares may be
published, unpublished and/or negotiated fares. In fact corporations
or government agencies/organizations may have fares negotiated
with an airline at a lower rate.
Unpublished fares are also known as consolidated fares and are
offered by consolidators and bucket shops.
Airline Contacts
The following contacts are subject to change. However, all airlines that remain in business will usually offer you the new number when you call.
Adria Airways 49-69-25730 Aero California 800-237-6225
Aeroflot 888-340-6400 Aero Lineas Argentinas 800-333-0276
Aer Lingus 888-474-7424 Aero Mexico 800-237-6639
Air Afrique 800-456-9192 Air Aruba 800-882-7822
Air Canada 888-247-2262 Air Caribbean 809-623-2500
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 4 6 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 46 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Air Europa 888-238-7672 Air Fiji 800-677-4277
Air France 800-237-2747
Air India (310) 338-8480,(312) 782-6263,(202) 785-8989, (281) 587-0035, (212) 751-6200, (416) 865-1033
Air Jamaica 800-523-5585 Air Lanka 800-247-5265
Air New Zealand 800-262-1234 Air Pacific 800-227-4446
Air Ukraine 800-857-2463 Alaska Airlines 800-426-0333
Alitalia 800-223-5730 All Nippon Airways 800-235-9262
Aloha Airlines 800-227-4900 America West 800-235-9292
American Airlines 800-433-7300 Asiana Airlines 800-227-4262
Austrian Airlines 800-843-0002 Avianca Airlines 800-284-2622
Bearskin Airlines 800-465-2327 British Airways 800-247-9297
British Midland Airways 800-788-0555 Cathay Pacific Airlines 800-223-2742
China Airlines 800-227-5118 China Southern Airlines 888-338-8988
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 4 7 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 47 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Continental Airlines 800-525-0280 Copa Airlines 800-892-2672
Croatian Airlines 800-247-5353 Czech Airlines 800-223-2365
Delta Airlines 800-221-1212 EasyJet UK +44 0870 600 0000
El Al Israel Airlines 800-223-6700 Emirates 800-777-3999
Ethiopian Air 800-445-2733 Finnair 800-950-5000
First Air 800-267-1247 Frontier Airlines 800-432-1359
Gulf Air 800-553-2824 Hawaiian Airlines 800-367-5320
Horizon Air 800-554-2924 Iberia Airlines 800-772-4642
Icelandair 800-223-5500 Japan Airlines 800-525-3663
Kenya Airways 800-343-2506
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines 800-374-7747
Korean Airlines 800-438-5000 Lacsa 800-225-2272
LAN Chile Airlines 866-435-9526 Lauda Air 800-645-3880
LOT Polish Airways 800-223-0593 Lufthansa 800-645-3880
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 4 8 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 48 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Malaysia Airlines 800-421-8641 Malev Hungarian 800-223-6884
Mexicana Airlines 800-531-7921
Midwest Express Airlines 800-452-2022
Northwest Airlines 800-225-2525 Philippine Airlines 800-435-9725
Polynesian Airlines 800-223-4277 Qantas 800-227-4500
Royal Air Maroc 800-344-6726 Royal Jordanian 800-223-0470
RyanAir +44 0871 246 0000 Saudi Arabian Airlines 800-472-8342
Scandinavian Airline Systems (SAS) 800-221-2350
Singapore Airlines 800-742-3333 South African Airways 800-722-9675
Southwest Airlines 800-435-9792 Spanair 888-545-5757
Spirit Airlines 800-772-7117 TACA International 800-535-8780
Tap Air Portugal 800-221-7370 Thai Airways 800-426-5204
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 4 9 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 49 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Ukraine Intl Airlines 800-876-0114 United Airlines 800-241-6522
US Airways 800-428-4322 Varig Brazilian Airlines 800-468-2744
Vasp 800-723-8277 Virgin Atlantic Airways 800-862-8621
WestJet Airlines 800-538-5696 Yugoslav Airlines 800-752-6528
Zambia Airways 800-223-1136
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 5 0 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 50 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
In this chapter weve looked at the often-used vehicle of overbooking
by airlines to get free and drastically reduced airfares. You can use
this technique as often as youd like. I highly recommend it to the
budget conscious, traveling Pauper.
The Pauper
knows that
imagination will
often carry him
to worlds that
never were, but
without it he
will really go
nowhere.
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 5 1 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 51 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Chapter Two
Get Your Magnificent Miles
Finding Value
Whats It Worth to You?
Those miles you accumulate by flying when you travel have an
individual value. It's just tough to choose an exact monetary figure.
It's worth the effort of trying, however. The accepted range is
somewhere between one and three US cents per mile.
Let's say you've collected 50 thousand miles and you're ready to
book a trip. At one cent per mile, your chosen flight should cost a
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 5 2 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 52 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
minimum of $500 USD. Two cents per mile: $1000. So we've
established the range for tickets at $500-1000.
If your desired trip costs $450, don't change your trip around. But if it
is significantly lower than $500, you might want to reconsider your
strategy.
This might be the time to save your miles and purchase the ticket. If
your budget allows, it might also be worth upgrading your trip.
Unfortunately, many travelers simply plunk down their mileage for a
trip they could book well below even the bottom end of the range.
Emergencies aside, be sure you're getting a full ride for those miles.
Miles for Sale
The same thing applies to these new Web sites offering to "cash in"
your miles for money and merchandise.
Consumer studies indicate those items usually are far too expensive
when bought with mileage.
In short, it can be like walking into a McDonalds and paying $30 for a
hamburger.
Use these programs as a last resort. For example, if you have a few
thousand miles remaining with an airline you're unlikely to fly with
again, getting merchandise from their site or an independent site
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 5 3 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 53 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
could make sense. Better yet, just stick to no more than three airlines
to maximize your mileage account.
Places offering to buy your unused miles should be treated in the
same way. Anything less than 1.5 cents per mile is a sacrifice on your
part--you're pocketbook is the one taking a hit.
Get Help!
Busy people rarely have time for the intricacies of frequent flier
strategies. Airlines plan on that--it's a moneymaker for them.
Since you're stuck with the system, it sometimes makes sense to hire
a company that will manage your miles.
Miles Direct and Max Miles both do this for a fee under $30 USD per
annum. They keep track of all your frequent flier accounts on one
statement, too. They always will red flag miles about to expire. They'll
also lead you to opportunities for more points.
Unless you've got a lot of miles in several accounts, these services
probably are not worth the money. However, their existence is
testimony to the importance of managing miles properly.
If you're going to deal in frequent flier miles, gather them up as often
as you can, and use all of them. When you let splinter blocks of 5000
miles expire, guess who winsYep, the airlines.
Remember--You paid for those miles!
http://www.milesdirect.com/http://www.maxmiles.com/
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 5 4 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 54 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Don't Give Away your Advantage
What could be better than earning free travel tomorrow when you pay
your bills today? Frequent flier programs are a much-prized institution
of budget travel.
So you might be surprised to learn airlines love them far more than
most travelers, and with good reason. Take a moment to look at this
from an airline viewpoint.
A frequent flier program can keep a major airline in firm control of its
hubs while chasing away cheaper carriers. Customers of all carriers
tend to be loyal when they have frequent flier miles.
Best of all, many consumers manage their miles so poorly that the
actual cost of maintaining the programs might be much less than you
imagine.
What You Need to Know
Accumulate Miles Aggressively. Travel, credit card programs and airline partners all provide ways to get mileage.
Make note of the program's "partners". Which hotels and rental car
companies cooperate? Use them!
Never Let Miles Expire. If you have mileage remaining after planning a flight, consider expanding that flight to use ALL of the
miles in your account. Ask about converting the soon-to-expire
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 5 5 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 55 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
mileage into an award certificate, which nearly always will extend
your decision time by about a year.
Find the Lowest-Priced Fare, then Compare. Let's say you want to fly to London from Boston. If the lowest fare available is $365 USD
and you're planning to use 50,000 miles, the airline wins. Each mile is
worth at least one U.S. penny.
The Goal is Free Travel, Not Big Mileage. Resist the temptation to watch mileage pile up in your account(s). Consider breaking that
100,000-mile block into four or five segments, each good for a free
flight.
Limit Your Accounts. Concentrate on one or two programs. Consider plans that include a number of airlines.
Treat frequent flier miles as you would money in the bank.
What do that birthday gift for Aunt Mary and the red-eye flight from
Chicago to Atlanta have in common? Both can produce frequent flier
miles.
Long ago, someone figured out that actual air miles flown should not
be the only reason for awarding free travel. Accordingly, some credit
card companies offer cushy deals for travelers. You earn a mile or
more for each dollar spent. But please understand this: no one is
throwing away miles. You're purchasing them.
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 5 6 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 56 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Likewise, when you buy a ticket and make a trip, you pay for the
service and the frequent flier miles. They are a commodity, and are
not awarded without a cost.
But that's not the way many travelers look at their mileage. You would
think their accounts were prizes won at a county fair. They throw
away miles right and left because, after all, it's not really dollars. They
let mileage expire.
Don't think the airlines haven't noticed this tendency.
More than 50 million travelers have miles to use. Millions of those
miles expire without being utilized. Every time that happens, the
airlines pocket a nice piece of change.
I remember a presidential debate in which someone tried to cut off
former president Ronald Reagan. He replied petulantly: "I paid for this
microphone!"
You should have the same feeling whenever someone tries to cancel,
discount or steal your frequent flier miles.
I recommend you join the Frequent Flier News website where you will
find breaking news about frequent flier miles and promotions.
http://www.frequentflier.com/
http://www.frequentflier.com/
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 5 7 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 57 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Heres a look at the home page:
Breaking News
~ The Promise of Free Seats, Broken
~ More Miles from Best Western
~ La Quinta Offers Double Southwest Points
Post your questions and comments on the forum, and check out posts by others.
After flights, credit card purchases are the most lucrative source of miles. That's the good news. The bad news is that there are too many cards to choose from. Which card is for you?
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 5 8 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 58 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Cast your vote in travel-related polls, and compare your opinion with others'. Currently featured: Which airlines do the best job delivering on the promise of award seats?
Most of what you might ever want to know about frequent flyer programs is here.
Someone has to win those million-mile prize drawings, right? May as well be you!
Here, in conjunction with Amazon.com, we make available a selection of books related to travel generally, and frequent flyer programs particularly.
A selection of high-quality merchandise (t-shirts, bags, mugs, etc.) bearing the FrequentFlier.com logo.
Travel-Grams are digital postcards (with images of historic aircraft, naturally) you can use to stay in touch with friends and relatives.
http://www.amazon.com/
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 5 9 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 59 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
The Internet's most comprehensive collection of airport links.
I love this site and the newsletter you can sign up for. It constantly
gives you the very latest news and ever-changing opportunities to
gather up frequent flier miles.
Heres another resource for you. Become a courier and fly on the
cheap.
Whats a Courier Company?
Courier companies have overnight shipments to cities such as
London, Hong Kong, Sydney, Tokyo, Singapore, Bangkok, Manila,
Melbourne, Manchester and several other locations in Europe, Asia,
South America, and Australia.
These companies have flights booked every single day of the year.
What do they do? They are in the business of providing a courier, an
individual who buys only the seat space, for companies who are
sending luggage on commercial airlines. They simply purchase a
coach class ticket and use the allotted luggage space to ship their
packages.
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 6 0 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 60 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
What do they do with the seat? That's where you come in. The
company sell the seat space to individuals at bargain prices. In other
words, you fly as the passenger, a courier as they call it, checking in
their luggage. Many companies will send a courier because it is
cheaper than shipping freight by air cargo. Also, shipping material as
luggage clears customs can be hours, even days quicker than by
cargo freight. They cannot send their important luggage without you,
so they offer the seat for very low prices. Interested yet?
If you wanted, you could probably be on a flight to some exotic
country within the next 24 hours. To learn more about this unusual
way to fly for pennies on the dollar visit:
http://tinyurl.com/7y2tp
The International Association of Air Couriers (IAA) has about 1,400 round trip flights each week to seventy-one cities worldwide.
Return tickets are usually good for a full week, often longer. If you
participate, youre responsible for transportation to the departure
cities, which can be found in many major markets like Atlanta, Miami,
San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Chicago. Here are some
examples of round trip fares: Paris - $395, Bangkok - $295, London -
$199. See why our Pauper loves this way of travel?
IAA requires an annual membership fee of $50 but you save from 50
to 80% off of airline tickets. You will learn about them all with your
monthly newsletters Air Courier Bulletin and Shoestring Traveler
(alternating months), which are included in your membership. You
http://tinyurl.com/7y2tp
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 6 1 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 61 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
can also get the ACA World Guidebook, MEDEX card, exclusive
discounts, last minute specials and all flight schedules: 8 South J
Street, P.O. Box 1349, Lake Worth, FL. 33460. Call 407-582-8320
and visit: http://www.aircourier.com
Heres another agent that represents many different courier
companies:
Now Voyager 74 Varrick Street, Suite 307, New York, NY 10013. Call 212-431-1616 and visit: http://www.nowvoyager.com
http://www.aircourier.com/http://www.nowvoyager.com/
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 6 2 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 62 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Chapter 3
The Paupers Secrets To Flying!
In this chapter Ill start confessing the secrets of the pauper and continue revealing them throughout the rest of the book. But, right now, Ill confess to little known ways of really taking advantage of the most popular form of transportation (airline flights) and saving bundles of money in the process.
Many of us rely on the ever-famous airfare price-wars or our travel
agent to save us money while flying. But depending on them too
much may cause you to miss the boat (or the plane, to be exact)
even though these price-wars can work to your advantage.
The airlines often slash their normal fares during sluggish travel times
in order to entice you to buy a ticket. The best advice is to regularly
scan your travel sections in the newspapers and talk to your agent
about these low fares.
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 6 3 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 63 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
If you wish to travel like the rich and famous but make it happen with
a paupers budget here are some little known secrets that will make
you glad you purchased this book.
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 6 4 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 64 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
Paupers Secret Confession #1
Call the airlines between midnight and 1 a.m. Monday through
Friday to get cheaper tickets. Most people never realize that at
midnight, airline agents revise and load new fares into their trusty
little computers (actually really big computers). The best shot at
rock bottom fares is just after they have done the updating!
Paupers Secret Confession #2
Check into other airports other than the main one you usually use.
Many major cities like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco,
Dallas, Washington, and London have two airports. I live in Boston
and yet, along with our Logan Airport there is the city of
Providence, Rhode Island that offers an airport, too. So, check into
surrounding towns and cities so you can compare airfares. Ive
often flown out of Providence, not only because the fares can be
cheaper, but also Southwest Airlines doesnt even have permission
to fly out of Boston. Ive saved hundreds of dollars on my flights
with SW Airlines to Dallas because I went a little bit out of my way
to get to the airport in Providence. You may be able to do the same
in your locale.
Paupers Secret Confession #3
The early bird catches the plane! Typically, the earlier you book
your flight the more you save. Most special fares have restrictions
of 7 to 30 day advance purchase. Usually non-refundable but they
-
T r a v e l C h e a p T r a v e l W e l l b y V i c t o r K . P r y l e s P a g e 6 5 o f 2 6 5
Victor K. Pryles 2004 All Rights Reserved - 65 www.paupertravel.com www.authorsden.com/victorkpryles
can offer deep disco